Towson University

Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life

Rush, Bids and

New Member Initiation

Policies and Guidelines Updated May 2019

Greetings Members of the Independent Greek Council:

It is our goal to have a streamline process for the potential new members of the I.G.C. This document is the measure we are taking at Towson to help secure a safe community and create a system of accountability for all stakeholders. We require that each Greek Letter Organization conducting a rush week to keep the office informed of all membership recruitment activities.

With this in mind, the office has created procedures to help ensure the privacy of each of our member chapters and the candidates for membership, and that all applicable University, (inter)national headquarters, local, state, and federal laws are followed.

Please read over this document of information and adhere to the deadlines outlined. To be in compliance and remain in good standing with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, all forms must be submitted before any membership recruitment activities occur.

If you have any additional questions or concerns in reference to any of the materials below do not hesitate to contact me at 410-704-2645 or Rvital@towson.edu.

Thank you in advance for your understanding and consideration.

Best regards,

Roodinz F. Vital Coordinator, Fraternity and Sorority Life Campus Life Towson University

Chartered fraternities and sororities under the auspices of the Independent Greek Council (IGC) are allowed to recruit on campus under the guidelines of formal recruitment as regulated by Towson University and the chapters’ respective local and national governing bodies. Chapters who intend on having Recruitment/Rush MUST Submit the rush week schedule and flyers for approval by the close of business (5:00pm) two weeks prior to the designated IGC open house date. These schedule should be sent to the Vice President of the IGC and the coordinator of fraternity and sorority life for approval. Chapters who do not submit these items by the designated due date will be denied Recruitment/Rush week approval for that semester. Recruitment of University freshmen is a privilege regulated by the Chapter Assessment Program (CAP). A chapter’s national organization must approve, and the chapter must be at a Gold, Silver or Bronze level to recruit first semester freshmen students.

The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and will be provided the chapters the rush period dates in the months of May and November for the upcoming semester. The rush period will begin with the IGC Open house and will last for two full weeks.

The IGC rush period is Towson’s formal recruitment period for the council. Our office supports the informal recruitment, outside of the organized period as long as all informal recruiting efforts are communicated with the office of Fraternity & Sorority Life. All informal activities must adhere to all university, state and federal regulations and laws.

Chapters may only recruit and offer membership to full-time undergraduate students with 12 or more credits and a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.5 or above. They must also register online at: https://www.towson.edu/studentlife/activities/fratsororitylife/join.html. This link will take you to the “how to join” section of the University website and potential new members must scroll down and complete the IGC recruitment form.

All potential new members are required to fill out and submit this form to be eligible to participate in recruitment, even if they are not selected. During each day of recruitment/rush/ Interest meeting, a laptop is required at a sign-in table for potential new members to register. Please make sure that every person you speak to is registered. Registering online is non-binding. Prospective New Members MUST:

1. Attend the IGC Open house that semester. 2. Register for IGC rush -

https://www.towson.edu/studentlife/activities/fratsororitylife/join.html. 3. Attend one (1) of the chapter’s rush /recruitment events that semester. 4. Have a 2.5 cumulative GPA. 5. Must be attempting 12 credits or more

By registering, a student releases their grades to the chapter, national organization, and the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life. The Director/Coordinator of Fraternity and Sorority Life must be notified in writing of any

recruitment related activities that occur outside of the formal recruitment period. A Deviation

Letter must be submitted when the Rush week schedule is submitted. Submission of this letter

does not grant to automatic approval for deviation.

IGC Open House The open house serves and introduction for potential new members (PNMS) to Greek Life and the Independent Greek Council. At the Open house PNMS will be required to sign in and indicate what organizations they are interested in. After sign in pnms will walk to the various chapter tables of the IGC to learn more about the different organizations in this council. Once that has concluded there will be two presentations given. One, an overview of the IGC and chapters and two a presentation on anti-hazing. 48 hours after the open house the chapters will receive a list of those who are approved by our office and are interested in joining their organization. These are the person who can receive bids at the conclusion of the chapter’s rush / recruitment. Missed Open House Those who missed the open house MUST receive a makeup Anti-hazing presentation with the office of Fraternity and Sorority Life BEFORE they are deemed eligible for a bid.

At the completion of your rush period then your chapter should conduct your selection process to determine who will be given bids. Once your bid list is complete you will send it to the Director/Coordinator of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life. The list should include: full legal name, TUID, Home Address, Phone Number, Classification and TU Email. In an excel document. Chapters will have one (1) week to submit their bid list to the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life. Only approved potential new members should be placed on the bid list. Along with this list should be the New Member education schedule.

The new member education period for fraternities and sororities may not be longer than six (6) weeks in the Fall and seven (7) weeks in the Spring. The Fraternity and Sorority Life Representative will determine when the new process must end for the entire community. All education sessions must be held on the campus of Towson University unless approved prior by the (inter)national office.

Education schedule New member education schedules must be submitted with the approved bid list. Education schedules should include TIPS training and Greek 101.

Deviation(s) Those chapters, whose national headquarters prohibit them from participating in the Towson University designated period, must adhere to the following no less than 10 Business days before any recruitment activity:

1. The chapter must submit a formal letter with letter head from the district, regional or national office indicating the reasons and areas in which deviation from the Towson University guidelines are necessary to adhere to the guidelines set out by your organization.

2. The letter should be signed and the advisor of the sponsoring chapter should be prepared to meet with coordinator to further discuss the deviation plan.

Charges may be brought against the chapter and/or individual chapter member(s) through the

Office of Student Conduct and Civility Education. Expectations of Organizations

1. The academic mission of the institution will be upheld and promoted to aspirants. 2. New member education activities will not interfere with academic endeavors or class

schedules, will not occur between the hours of 12 a.m. and 8 a.m., and will not include the presence or consumption of alcohol.

3. The selection of aspirants will be free of any form of mental and/or physical abuse and hazing.

4. Members will be selected on the criteria set forth by the (inter)national organization. 5. Chapters will not engage in pre or post hazing activities. Hazing is not tolerated in any

form—as part of the new member program or as acts of individual members of the chapter. 6. Chapter will be responsible for providing the times and location of all educational

instruction. 7. Chapter will conduct a new member training after the completed initiation of new members 8. Initiations and rituals should take place on campus and all ritual materials must be approved

by Towson University.

Aspirants’ Rights

The new member education process should be conducted in a manner that respects the dignity of aspirants and protects their mental and physical well-being. Examples of acceptable behavior include activities that are not classified as hazing, but promote scholarship, promote service, develop leadership and/or social skills, assist career goals, improve relations with others, build awareness of fraternity or sorority history, instill a sense of brotherhood or sisterhood, foster chapter solidarity or otherwise promote the institutional mission of the University. Rush and new member education can take place in either the Fall or Spring, but not during university closings.

Hazing

National offices of local affiliate chapters, and Towson University have a “zero tolerance” approach to hazing. Any form of hazing is against Maryland State Law.

___________________________________________________________________ Copr. (C) West 1998 No Claim to Orig. U.S. Govt. Works

MD CODE 1957, Art. 27, s Code 1957, Art. 27, s 268H

ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND

CODE OF 1957 ARTICLE 27. CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS.

I CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS Hazing Copyright (C) 1978-1997 by Michie, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. and Reed Elsevier Properties Inc. All rights reserved. Current through End of 1997 Reg. Sess. s 268H Hazing students prohibited. (a) Haze defined. -- In this section "haze" means doing any act or causing any situation which recklessly or intentionally subjects a student to the risk of serious bodily injury for the purpose of initiation into a student organization of a school, college, or university. (b) Violation constitutes misdemeanor; penalty. -- A person who hazes a student so as to cause serious bodily injury to the student at any school, college, or university is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is subject to a fine of not more than $500, or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both. (c) Consent of student not defense. -- The implied or expressed consent of a student to hazing may not be a defense under this section. CREDIT (1985, ch. 153.) Code 1957, Art. 27, s 268H MD CODE 1957, Art. 27, s 268